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Nobody knows that Isla Verde can talk to the animals on the island where she lives, Sol. It’s a talent that comes in handy when she sends her best friend, Fitz the Gecko, to check out the moving truck that arrived on her street. To her excitement, one of the new neighbors is a girl her age, so she might finally have a human best friend. However, Tora Rosa, who comes from La Ciudad, seems like the complete opposite of Isla—she’s tidy, loves the big city where she’s from, and runs from animals—but Isla still wants to make a good impression, so she comes up with an idea. On a trip to town to prepare for her big plan, Isla bumps into Tora. When an attention-seeking bird steals Tora’s prized pin, a reminder of her old home, the two embark on an adventure across the island. As they traverse Sol, Isla runs into some of her best animal friends, which puts her secret at risk of exposure. Isla just may find that the best way to make a friend is to be herself, despite her and Tora’s differences. A well-paced adventure with simple language, this is an excellent selection for beginning readers. Soft, warm illustrations depict Isla’s beloved island as she shows Tora around, keeping young readers engaged while they learn about what the island offers. Isla’s curiosity and joy shine through as a budding friendship blossoms. Isla and her family are brown-skinned, while Tora and her family are lighter-skinned; both families are Spanish-speaking and present as Latine.

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